Dolphin Academy

13/10/2026

Another school holidays, another round of training for our team.

We spent a half day together working through lifeguard scenarios, reviewing our programme and getting in the water to fine-tune our stroke teaching. It's a chance for everyone, from our newest instructors to our most experienced, to share what's working, ask questions and make sure we're all teaching to the same standard. We were also grateful to have Greendale coach Laura join us, taking us through some butterfly drills.

So why do we train every holidays? Because what happens in staff training shows up in the water. An instructor who has practiced a rescue scenario responds faster. An instructor who has revisited how to teach breathing, spots the problem sooner. Our team come out of every session more consistent and more confident, and your swimmers feel that in their very next lesson.

Thank you to our team (and to our little swimmer helpers!) for giving up part of their holidays to keep getting better. We're proud of you!

10/10/2026

It's not often we get away from the pool as a family, so Vicky & Brendon have just made the most of a week in the Bay of Islands, and we had some very special company out on the water. A pod of bottlenose dolphins swam right alongside the boat we were on.

Of course, our first thought was of our Bottlenose swimmers back at the pool. These dolphins were strong, smooth and completely at home in the water, which is exactly what we're working towards with every one of our swimmers, one level at a time.

A great reminder of how lucky we are to live in a country surrounded by such beautiful water, and why learning to swim matters so much for our tamariki.

Bottlenose swimmers, this one's for you. We think you'd have kept up with them!

What a special place Northland is!

We are back at the pool on Monday, refreshed and ready to go.

08/09/2026

Look what's landed... our Dolphin Academy (Lycra) caps are back in stock! Come and see us in the office! Along with our Zoggs Australia & New Zealand goggles, swimwear and hooded towels.

07/09/2026

Well done to our super swimmers of the month! Jessica, Pippa, Thea, Ashlyn, Parker, Madison, Dwija, & Grayson. Ka pai!

02/09/2026

We are delighted to hear that this bill has been passed. Dolphin Academy made a submission supporting this change! We teach thousands of children a year about the importance of wearing a lifejacket on all watercraft, no matter how big or small!

Officials estimate the new rule could save around 10 lives a year.

01/09/2026

The most common thing an adult says in their first lesson with us isn't "I can't swim." It's "I'm probably going to be terrible at this."

They're never terrible. They're usually just tense, because they've spent years telling themselves this is something they should have already sorted. Once that pressure's off, it moves fast.

Adult swimming classes only run every so often, so if this sounds like you, talk to us now, we can help.

29/08/2026

Holiday programme bookings are open. First week of the school holidays, and this always fills before term ends, so don't wait until the last week of term to sort it.

Morning classes, qualified teachers in the water, real progress.

Spots are limited by ratio, same as our regular classes, so once they're gone, they're gone.
Book now via your app, or online https://www.dolphinacademy.co.nz/school-holiday-programme

28/08/2026

For the 2nd year, Tamatea Primary School tamariki soared to new heights at their swimming sports! Some truly unforgettable racing, heartwarming displays of sportsmanship, and an abundance of joy! A thrilling teacher-student relay at the end with teachers emerging victorious by the slimmest of margins! Ka pai to every single one of you, you should be incredibly proud!

27/08/2026

"We get asked this a lot, quietly, usually by parents coming to lessons with their kids. "Do you ever teach adults?"

Yes. And most of the adults who come to us aren't complete non-swimmers, they're people who can get by but never feel comfortable. Maybe they never had lessons as a kid, maybe they had a bad experience, maybe they just avoided the deep end for twenty years and got used to it.
There's no age cutoff on learning to feel confident in the water."
We can help... https://www.dolphinacademy.co.nz/adult-learn-to-swim

26/08/2026

An action-packed few weeks are ahead with the lucky Taradale Intermediate School tamariki coming to Dolphin Academy for water safety sessions. Whirlpools, waves, lifejackets, boats, treasure hunts, ice baths, obstacle courses with blackout goggles, survival skills, fin relays. We kicked off this week with the 1st 10 classes!